Public hearings to probe alleged beatings of Malaysia's Anwar

Attorney general blamed police for injuries

February 21, 1999
Web posted at: 2:53 a.m. EST (0753 GMT)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN) -- A new phase in the saga of former minister Anwar Ibrahim starts Monday, when a royal commission begins a public inquiry into injuries Anwar received while in police custody.

Anwar, who was ousted from his government position and is now on trial on corruption and sodomy charges, appeared in court on September 29 with a black eye and bruises on his hands and neck, injuries which provoked international criticism.

The royal commission is charged with identifying those responsible for the injuries and reporting to the head of state, the king. The hearings are expected to last about two weeks.

Police chief resigned

Some three dozen people including Anwar have been served
with subpoenas to appear before the commission, which will meet
in a court complex near the room where Anwar's corruption trial
has been under way since November.

The commission was formed after police investigators failed
to identify who hit Anwar after he was arrested in September.

Anwar, who less than three weeks before his arrest had been
Malaysia's second most powerful politician, said he was
blindfolded and beaten until unconscious and bleeding after hooded police detained him on September 20.

Last month, the police chief resigned after Attorney-General
Mohtar Abdulah blamed the police for Anwar's injuries.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad then gave up his post as
home minister in charge of the police and passed the baton to new Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi who has promised a more "people friendly" police force.

The royal commission is headed by former chief justice Anwar
Zainal Abidin. The other members are former Court of Appeal
Judge Mahadev Sankar and former Malaysian Medical Association
president Dr Yeoh Poh Hong, an orthopaedic surgeon.

Former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman will lead the
questioning during the hearings, which will be open to the
public and the press.

The opposition and non-governmental organizations have
accused the police of using excessive force to break up
anti-government demonstrations which erupted after Anwar was arrested in September.

Arrest followed protest against Mahathir

The police have defended their actions, saying the protests,
which have since tapered off, were illegal and could have
sparked race riots.

Anwar was sacked from his posts as deputy prime minister and
finance minister on September 2, with Mahathir calling him
morally unfit to lead the nation.

He was arrested 18 days later, after leading 30,000
protesters through the capital calling on Mahathir to step down
after 17 years in power.

Anwar has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of corruption and
sodomy, saying he was a victim of a conspiracy by political
enemies to finish his career.

Anwar has asked the royal commission to allow his lawyers to
cross-examine witnesses, Abu Talib said. The commission was
expected to rule on the request on Monday.

It was not clear whether the corruption trial would adjourn
to allow Anwar to make a scheduled appearance before the
commission on Tuesday.